Timing mechanism



1961 R. H. LEHDE 2,996,585

TIMING MECHANISM Filed Aug. s, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI FIG.2

20 all J 14 INVENTOR. RICHARD H. LE HDE ATTORNEY.

1961 R. H. LEHDE 2,996,585

TIMING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. RICHARD H. LEHDE A TTORNE Y.

United States Patent 2,996,585 TIMING MECHANISM Richard H. Lehde, WestHartford, Conn., assignor to Dayton Company, Inc., West Hartford, Conn.,a corporation Filed Aug. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 47,183 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-39)The present invention relates generally to new and useful improvementsand structural refinements in a temporising device or timing instrumentor interval timer in which measured periods or increments of time may bevaried by a cam means in manner that an initial time increment of aspecific duration followed by successive time increments of graduallyincreasing longer, or shorter, duration are provided, all within and bymeans of a unitary mechanism.

More particularly stated, this is a temporising device for elfectuatingthe functioning of an operating member or members during a succession ofgradually increasing, or gradually decreasing, lapses of time.

It will be helpful to an understanding of my invention to consider firstand briefly some of the essential points and more important features andaspects thereof, so that same may be kept in mind during the subsequentreading of the detailed description of the practical embodiment of myimprovements and of the illustration thereof in the hereunto annexeddrawings. Accordingly, it is g first to be noted that my invention maybe'embodied in any device having a problem necessitating the employ mentof different time intervals during its successive op- I erations.

.Ihe particular embodiment of the present invention, which isillustrated in the drawings, and which will be described hereinafter ingreater detail, embraces the concept of a timing apparatus which isoperable through an initial cycle and subsequent cycles of varyingduration, wherein the successive cycles may be of gradually increasingduration or of gradually decreasing duration.

-It is -a particular object hereof to provide a novel timing devicewhich is readily adaptable for use in cooperation with vending machinesof the type which meter out quantities of a liquid and wherein thecharacteristics of said vending machines make dispensing periods ofsuccessively longer, or shorter, duration a desideratum for theirsuccessful functioning.

Stated otherwise, it is a salient object hereof to provide an improvedform of interval timer which may be preset to accurately measure asuccession of time intervals of varying (increasing or decreasing)duration by way of connecting a time-measuring mechanism to a constantspeed motor so as to vary the length of time before which an operatinginstrumentality of the vending machine is ealled into operational use assuccessive dispensing steps ensue.

'Reduceto simplest terms, this invention relates to a timing mechanismfor actuating a member after a predetermined interval of time, whichtime interval differs with each successive use of the construction withwhich said timing mechanism is associated.

In the laboratory, factory, store, home and elsewhere, there are manyinstances Where operations must be carefully timed. That is, they mustbe terminated after a predetermined period. Too, in a specificinstallation or piece of equipment, it is conceivable that it may beI160- essary in the case of a plurality of timed increments, onefollowing another, that certain of the increments be of longer orshorter duration than the others, or that each successive timedincrement be slightly longer or slightly shorter than the immediatelypreceding timed increment.

Interval timers heretofore known have not been capalile of measuring aplurality of intervals of time in manner where the successive intervalsare of increasing or decreasing duration.

By means of the mechanism hereof, an oscillating am, used in conjunctionwith a revolving ratchet and cammed stop, solves the problem so thatsuccessive time intervals variable as to each other may be readilyobtained.

One specific use envisioned for the invention hereof is in a vendingmachine of the type which dispenses cups of percolated coffee upon theinsertion of coins thereinto. As is well known, such a vending machinedrops a cup into position below the discharge spout of a coffee urnwithin the machine and dispenses a metered charge of the colfeethereinto. Upon completion of the discharge, the patron removes the cupfrom the machine. Needless to say, such vending machine will dispense inseriatim a plurality of cups of coffee according to the capacity of themachine. These cups of cofiee may be dispensed within a matter ofminutes or of hours according to the location and popularity of themachine.

Such a machine of common type maye have a capacity of 60 cups and isidentified as a 60 cup machine. It will be appreciated that the capacityof the vending ma chine is of no particular import to this invention,same being readily adapted for use in vending machines of any specificcapacity.

Experience has dictated, however, that in the dispensing of cotfee insuch manner, the first cup of metered coffee will be best metered duringan operating interval of certain duration, say 2% seconds, and the lastor .sixtieth cup, in 'the case of a '60 cup machine,"w'ill" bef bestmetered during an operating intervalvof slightly longer duration, say 3%seconds, with the second to fifty-ninth cups being best metered duringvarying operating intervals which gradually increase between 2 /2seconds and 3 /2 seconds in direct ratio to the number of the discharge.For instance, the thirtieth cup will be best metered during an operatinginterval of 3 seconds.

The characteristics of the vending machine and of the material dispensedthereby which lead to the aforesaid necessity in successive timingincrements of gradually increasing duration are of no concern here.Suffice to say that they are such as to make a timing mechanism whichcan control the duration of the timed intervals an obvious necessity asthis gradual increase, and in some instances it may be a gradualdecrease that is desired, in successive time intervals must becompensated for in some manner. Herein, I provide a timing apparatuswhich provides a succession of time lapses which successfully respondsto this need.

Without intending to place undue limitations uponthe scope of theinvention beyond what may be required by the state of the prior art, theinvention may be briefly described as consisting of an oscillatingtiming arm adapted to operate between a spiral shaped rotating stop anda circuit holding and breaking device, withthe arm being provided withmeans for rotating the spiral shaped stop a specific distance eachcycle, and means for driving'the arm at synchronous speed and returningit through spring action.

It is a distinct advantage hereof to provide a timing device which isextremely simple in its arrangement of component parts, whereby varioustime intervals may be accurately measured, and all without the necessityof complex gearing and/ or camming and/ or spring return mechanisms.

The invention resides in the particular construction, arrangement,combination, and relationship of the various elements, components andinstrumentalities of the timing apparatus as exemplified in the detaileddisclosure hereinafter set forth wherein the objects of the invention,as de fined in the paragraphs above will be apparent.

These foregoing objects and other incidental ends and 3 f advantageswill in part be obvious and apparent and will in part be more fullypointed out as the nature of the invention is better understood in theprogress of the disclosure below. To the end of attaining these and anyother object and advantage hereinafter reasonably appearing, it will beexplained that the invention consists substantially in the combination,construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, as describedin detail hereinafter, as shown in the annexed drawings, and as definedwith particularity in the appended claims.

It will be apparent however that the physical embodiment delineated,albeit the preferred exemplification, is only indicative of but one ofthe various ways in which the principles of the invention may beemployed and in which the component parts may be combined and arrangedSame is submitted as one best known embodiment of the invention inaccordance with the patent statutes and is given with a view toillustrating and explaining the precise nature of the principles of theinvention and their embodiment for practical use, in order that othersskilled in the art to which the invention pertains may be enabled toadapt and modify them in numerous embodiments, variations andmodifications, each as may be best adapted to the conditions of anyparticular use.

The characteristic features which I consider to be novel with myinvention will be better understood from a consideration of thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the illustrations inthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the timing device embodying the novelfeatures of my invention;

b FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the timing device of theinvention shown in FIG. 1; and

- FIGS. 3 and 4 are other plan views of the timing device shown in FIG.1 showing the relationship of parts in other positions of operation.

In the following description and in the appended claims, variouscomponents and details thereof will be identified by specific names forpurposes of convenience. Such names, however, are intended to be asgeneric in their application as the art will permit.

With continued reference now to the drawings, which illustrateschematically a typical and preferred embodiment of the invention forthe purpose of disclosure and forms a part of this specification, I haveshown a mounting plate 1 upon which various components of the device maybe mounted, as will be observed.

An upstanding support 2 extends vertically upwardly from the planarsurface of said mounting plate 1 and is provided at its upper freeextremity with a hub 3 of reduced diameter. The hub 3 has adownwardly-depending threaded opening therein in which a shoulder screw4 is threadedly engageable and by which means a stop member 5 and aratchet wheel 6 may be secured relative to each other in spaced coplanarrelation as to each other on top of the hub 3 and on top of the support2 respectively. Being so secured relative to each other, they arerotatable together as the ratchet wheel 6 is actuated in manner as willhereinafter appear.

Said stop member 5 is provided with a cam surface 5 which operates incoaction with an oscillating arm to produce successive time intervals oflonger or shorter duration, in manner as will be observed.

A pawl 7 is fixed to said mounting plate 1 as by rivets 8 so as toprovide a free extremity spaced upwardly of said mounting plate andengageable with the teeth on the outer periphery of the ratchet 6.

A timing motor 9 is fixed to the mounting plate 1 and ahorizontally-disposed generally L shaped arm 10 is fixed at one of itsextremities upon a motor shaft 12 extending transversely from the timingmotor 9 and through the mounting plate 1.

A cam follower 10' has an end fixed to the opposite extremity of the arm10 at a right angle relative thereto and has a free end which isconfrontable with the cam surface 5' of the stop 5.

The cam face of the stop, as will subsequently be observed, limits thetravel of the cam follower by reason of the length of the stop peripherywhich the cam follower abuts, holding the cam follower closer to orfurther from the lever 29.

A hub 11 is sleeved upon the motor shaft 12 and be- 1 low said arm 10wherefor the arm is disposed upwardly i above and coplanar with saidmounting plate 1. Said hub may be fixed to the motor shaft as by a setscrew 13 in known manner. P

A horizontally-disposed lever 14 is fixed to the upper planar surface ofthe arm 10 in manner so as to have an outer extremity extend outwardlybeyond the side edge of the arm and has a shoulder stop 15 extendingupwardly from the mid section thereof and an actuating feed pawl pin 16extending upwardly from the inner extremity there of.

A spring 17 is anchored at one end to a spring stud 18 extendingupwardly from the arm 10 distantly of said lever 14 and is anchored atits other end to a spring stud 19 extending upwardly from the outerextremity of lever 14.

A stop pin 20 extends upwardly from the upper planar surface of arm 10.

A lever 21 is pivotally mounted upon the upper planar surface of themounting plate 1 by means of a shoulder stud 22 which extends throughsaid lever at the mid-section thereof.

An upwardly extending latch release pin 23 is fixed to one end of thelever 21.

A spring 24 has one end anchored to a spring stud 25 extendingupwardlyfrorn the lever 21 and the opposite end anchored to a spring stud 26mounted on the mounting plate 1 distantly of said lever 21.

A stop pin 27 extends upwardly from the mounting plate 1 adjacent saidlever 21 and serves to limit the j pivotal motion of the lever, as willbe observed.

A latch pin 28 extends upwardly from said lever 21 t at the end of saidlever opposite from the latch release pin 23.

A generally U-shaped latch 29 is slidably mounted upon said mountingplate 1 as by one or more latch studs 30 fixed to said mounting plate 1.The studs are extendable through a slot 30' in said latch 29 whereforsaid latch may be slid-ably adjusted relative to said mounting plate andtoward and away from the support 2 and its related components, theamplitude of the rectilinear movement of the latch being determined bythe length; of the slot 30'. L

The latch 29 is provided with a horizontally and out: wardly extendingfinger 29' having a catch thereon and; which extends laterally outwardlyfrom the uper end ofE one: of the arms thereof in coplanar relationshipwith? and above the mounting plate 1. The edge of the finger 29' issuitably notched so as to be engageable with and? disengageable from thelatch pin 28 as the latch is slidr there-toward and there-fromrespectively. 5

It will be understood that said latch 29 is representative of a pushbutton or the like used to open or close a circuit upon the depositionof a coin as in a vending machine.

When the latch is moved in one direction, the circuit is closed, and,when moved in the opposite direction, the circuit is opened, sameeifectu'ating the opening and closing of contacts operating inconjunction with the latch; as will be observed.

The moment the circuit is closed, the load, such as, for example, thesolenoid pouring valve of the vending machine and the timing motor areenergized by means now to be described. T

A pin 31 is carried by an insulator 32 and extends up;- gvgxrdly from arearwardly extending branch of the latch A contact spring 3-3 issupported upwardly and outwardly of an insulator 37 as by a rivet 38 andis electiically connected to the load.

A contact spring 34 is supported upwardly and outwardly of the insulator37 as by a rivet 38 and is electrically connected to the timer motor 9.

Said cont-act springs 33 and 34 are disposed in spaced parallelism andare provided with aligned contact points 35 and 36 on the outer ends ofthe contact springs 33 and 34 respectively.

Rivets 39 secure the insulator 37 to the mounting plate 1. a I

A spring 40 is disposed between a spring stud 41 extending upwardly fromthe mounting plate 1 and the pawl pin 16 extending upwardly from thelever 14 in manner to underlie the stop 5, v

The construction of my timing apparatus having been described, itsoperation will now be explained.

To initiate the. cycle, latch 29 is reciprocated to the left as viewedin FIG. 1 as by the deposition of a coin in the vendingmachine so as toclose the contacts 35 and Y 36 by flexing said contact 36 toward saidcontact 35 by its confrontation with the insulated pin 31. Suchcompletes a circuit between the timer motor 9 and the load.

Such reciprocation of the latch 29 additionally brings the catch offinger 29' thereof into engagement with the pin 28 of the pivoted lever21, said lever being yieldable so as to permit the interlocking of thepin 28 and the catch of finger :29. v 7

The timer motor 9 having been energized, the motor shaft 12 is rotatedso as to rotate the arm in a clockwise direction upon its axis towardsthe latch release pin Before the arm 10 reaches the release pin 23, thefeed a pawl pin 16 on the lever 14 engages a tooth in the ratchet 6 soas to effectuate the advancement of the stop 5 to a new position.

That is, such elements permit a periodic movement of rotary translationof the feed pawl pin to the ratchet wheel which produces an angularmovement of the ratchet wheel.

It will be understood that following the indexing of the stop to its newposition, the pawl 7 engages the ratchet wheel 6 in known manner so asto locate the ratchet wheel and the stop in the new position.

The movement of the feed pawl pin 16 is at least equal to the pitch ofthe teeth of the ratchet wheel 6 so as to produce, during each feedmovement of this feed pawl pin, an angular feed of the ratchet wheel atleast equal to the pitch of the teeth.

Thus, the ratchet wheel and the stop are driven progressively forwardlywith each rotative sweep of the feed pawl pin 16 in an arc each time thearm 10 is swung.

The arm 10 meantime continues its pivotal movement so as to engage therelease pin 23 and bring about the swinging of the lever 21 upon itspivot so as to disengage the pin 28 from the catch of the finger 29'wherefor the lever 29 is returned to its normal non-operative positionand the contacts 35 and 36 are separated to break the circuit to thetimer motor 9 and the load.

As the timer motor clutch is disengaged when the current to the motor isbroken, the spring 40 serves to cause the return of the arm 10 to itsnew position adjacent the cam of the stop 5. That is, the cam follower10' limits the return of the arm to the extent that its outer extremityconfronts the cam of the stop 5 in its new position. The temporisingdevice is again in the ready state prepared for measuring a fresh ornext time increment.

With each subsequent sliding movement of the latch 29 and resultantclosing of the contacts 35 and 36, effectuated by the deposition of acoin into the vending machine, the cam follower 10' of the arm 10assumes a different position relative to the cam face 5' of the stop 5,thereby causing the time required for the arm 10 to pivot and contactthe latch release 23 to change accordingly.

For example, when the cam follower 10' is in contact with the positionon the cam face 5' of the stop 5, as

shown in FIG. 3, less time will be required to rotate the 10 intocontact with the latch release 23 than is required when said canifollower 10' is in contact the position on the face as shown in FIG. 1,the distance of the stroke being shorter. 7

It will be understood that while the timer motor at a constant speed,the time interval required for the completion of a cycle will bedirectly determined by the position of the stop lever 10 relative to thestop 5.

The contacts 35 and 36 will remain closed for a longer or shorter periodof time dependent upon the position of the stop lever 10' relative tothe stop 5 and the resultant arc of travel of the stop lever 10' and ofthe 10. Consequently, the contacts 35 and 36 will remain closed forlonger or shorter lengths accordingly.

Thus the arm 10 can occupy two extreme positions defined by the stop Sas illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing and by examination of thedrawing that a particular time interval at increment is a function ofthe angular position or the arm as determined by its position adjacentthe cam face of the stop and the length of the are which said sweeps inmoving from said position to its circuit break ing position when and asthe pin 28 is disengaged from the catch of the finger 29.

It will be appreciated that the temporising device hereof is completelysilent and without shock as the various instrumentalities are motivatedthrough their respective motions. V I I Too, the form of constructiondescribed allows of a very compact contruction having in fact a verysmall thickness.

Further, it is here to be explained that the stop 5 may be substitutedfor stops having cam'faces of difierent' configuration whereby aninfinite variety of measurements may be obtained.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will beclearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly,further description thereof at this point is considered unnecessary, asI have, in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes,described the principle of operation of my invention together with theapparatus which I now believe to represent the best embodiment thereof.

Without further analysis, the foregoing is intended to so fully revealthe gist of my invention and its construction and operation that otherscan, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for variousapplications without omitting features which, from the standpoint ofprior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of its genericand/or specific aspects. The substitution of equivalents and otherchanges, modifications and alterations as circumstances may suggest orrender expedient, are contemplated since the invention is susceptible ofsuch without departing from its real spirit or underlying principles.Stated otherwise, it is not desired to limit this invention to the exactconstruction shown and described as the objects hereof may be attainedby the use of constructions different in certain respects from thatdisclosed; for instance, the relative arrangement of the component partsmay be varied and/or adapted to suit the requirements to which my noveldevice may be subjected, and the actuating means, as aforesaid, may beof a type suitable for use in a coin vending machine.

The protection which is sought for this invention is covered by thelanguage of the above specification and the spirit represented therebyand same is limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appendedclaims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in myinvention as broadly as possible.

, The invention is claimed, broadly as well as specifically, asindicated in the appended claims, and same are desired to include withinthe scope thereof all of said suitable variations, modifications andequivalents by which substantially the results of the invention may beobtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent devicesor means. Accordingly, limitation hereof should only be made asdetermined by a proper interpretation of the subjoined claims.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

. 1. A timing apparatus -for measuring a cycle of increments of time ofgradually increasing duration from an initial cycle of a predeterminedduration to a final cycle of greater than the predetermined durationcomprising, a rotatable timing arm, a rotatable stop including a camface, a circuit holding and breaking means, said timing arm beingswingable in a time metering motion from a normal position adjacent thecam face of said stop to an operating position adjacent said circuitholding and break-- ing means, means for rotating said stop apredetermined distance during each measurement of a time increment,means for rotating said arm at a certain speed during each time meteringmotion from adjacent said stop to adjacent said circuit holding andbreaking means, and spring means for returning said arm to adjacent saidstop preparatory for the next time metering motion.

2. Timing apparatus for metering successive increments of time ofgradually changing duration comprising in combination, a driving memberadapted to rotate at a constant speed during the time increments beingmeasured and to be rendered inoperative atthe termination of the timeincrements, a timing ar-m rotated in one direction from rest position bysaid driving member during the time increments being measured, a springmeans for returning said timing arm from operative position at thetermination of the time increments to rest position, a rotatable stophaving a cam means, a circuit holding and breaking means, and means forrotating said stop forwardly through successive predetermined arcsduring the time increments.

3. A timing apparatus operable through an initial cycle of fixedduration and subsequent cycles of gradually changing duration comprisingin combination, an oscillating timing arm adapted to operate between anirregular shaped rotating stop and a circuit holding and breakingdevice, said arm provided with means for rotating said irregular shapedstop a specific distance each cycle, and means for driving said arm atsynchronous speed and returning it through spring action.

4. An elapsed time indicator comprising, a timer motor, a rotary shaftdriven by said motor, an arm mounted on said shaft and swingable in anare by the operation of said motor, a spring means for returning saidarm to normal position, a rotatable ratchet wheel, a

- cam fixed to and rotated 'by said ratchet wheel, a circuit breakingand holding means for energizing said motor at the commencement of andfor de-energizing said motor at the termination of each time intervalbeing indicated.

